QUOTE : UNQUOTE

'Authority is supposedly founded on wisdom. But I worked out from an early age that authority was just another form of control, and there wasn't any inherent wisdom'

-Joe Strummer, The Clash

"...you're a fucking good band"

-Pablo Cook, Original Mescalero - Thanks Pablo It was an honour

'I've just returned from seeing my first gig for 15 years. Sitting downstairs while the band sound checked was pretty surreal. Seeing them on stage and hearing them play was absolutely bloody fantastic!! They played with conviction, passion and copious amounts of vodka. Takethe5th are obviously not a tribute band. They don't want to be and they don't try to be. The people there including their family and friends were a great bunch who appreciated and loved the band as much as the band love the music they play.'

-Bakerville77, Colchester

'Saw them last night in Birmingham. A fantastic night out all round, great to hear some of the old tunes played with so much passion even had a mosh pit formed complete with divers. The white man encore just disintegrated into one huge free for all sing-a-long, far and away the best tribute band I've seen.'

-Montgomery spliffed, www.gigvideo.co.uk

'Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the show on Saturday. It’s so good that people are still out there playing Clash songs on stage. How great was it to hear ‘Protex Blue’ live?! And they deserve my highest praise for taking a song I’m normally not keen on, ‘Rock the Casbah’, and doing a version that I loved! Hope to see you again soon guys.'

-Lisamarie, Birmingham

Forget plastic surgery - this band takes 20 years off your life! Obviously this could be a problem if you're only 15....

-Sophie Thorn, Brighton - (full Review)

'it was a very enjoyable evening, the band played great without any impersonating attitude and there were several very nice people in the audience. and my jalapenos burger tasted great too. thanks tt5 for delivering the dvd, it's fantastic!'

-Tele, Vienna

Basically a bunch of blokes who patently love and revere the Clash and who make no attempt to look like their heroes. It seemed much more heartfelt and genuine to me and therefore much more enjoyable.

NigeyB - Punk77

'Did anyone go to see the clash tribute band take the 5th last saturday in Brighton? They were the closest thing to the clash i have heard. Was a great night out.'

-Bushe, headcorn

'Hearing Clash songs delivered with the commitment and sheer bloody hard work that goes into it is awesome.'

-Stevie, Birmingham

'UNTIL MY DYING DAY, I SHALL HOLD ONTO THOSE PRECIOUS MEMORIES. THEY ARE BURNED INTO MY VERY SOUL. THEY WERE THE EVENTS THAT SHAPED MY YOUTH MORE THAN ANY OTHER AS I ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF FREEDOM IN MY TEENS. I CHOSE LIFE, I CHOSE MUSIC. WHAT IS MORE, I CHOSE LIVE MUSIC. IT WAS A CHOICE THAT MADE ITSELF, THRUSTING ITSELF UPON MY SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS EXISTENCE.
TRAVELLING MORE THAN 15 MILES TO THE NEAREST VENUE, I WOULD VISIT MY CHURCH AND WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF THE BANDS THAT MADE LIFE WORTH LIVING. I HAVE VERY LITTLE RECOLLECTION OF HOW I GOT THERE OR IN FACT HOW I GOT HOME. HOWEVER, I DO REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY BEING THERE, WAITING EAGERLY FOR THE FIRST SONG. I WOULD BE EARLY AND RACE TO THE FRONT, ENJOYING EVERY NOTE AS THE SWEAT DRIPPED OFF ME UNTIL FINALLY SLOPING OFF TO PASS THE LONGS DAYS UNTIL THE NEXT BIG NIGHT OUT.
AS MY TEENS RACED BY AND THE BANDS THAT I HAD GROWN TO LOVE, AGED, CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED, I LAMENTED THE LOSS. I GRIEVED THEM ALL, THE STRANGLERS, THE DAMNED, MAGAZINE, SIOUXSIE, THE UNDERTONES, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS TO NAME BUT A FEW, THOUGH ANY LIST WOULD BE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT THE CLASH.
MY LIFE REVOLVED AROUND THESE EVENINGS, MY SCHOOLING WENT OUT OF THE WINDOW AND WITH IT WENT A CAREER, THOUGH I DIDN'T CARE. I STILL DON'T CARE BECAUSE I HAVE MY MEMORIES, MEMORIES THAT STILL LIVE WITH ME, MEMORIES THAT I CAN EXPERIENCE EVEN TODAY.
IN THIS ERA, WE HAVE BOY BANDS AND LIP-SYNCING BUT WHAT WE NEED IS PASSION AND DEDICATION. THE KIND OF PASSION THAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO THE EXTRAORDINARILY FAITHFUL RECREATION OF THE SOUNDS THAT INSPIRED THEIR YOUTH AS WELL AS MINE.
WITH A COMMITMENT TO CREATING AN AUTHENTIC CLASH SOUND, EVEN DOWN TO THE INSTRUMENTS USED, TAKE THE FIFTH HAVE IT TO A TEE. SO AS I STAND IN THE CROWD, SNIFF AN AIR FULL OF REMINISCENCES, I CLOSE MY EYES AND THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES THEM AWAY IS THAT THEY ARE TOO GOOD.'

-GRaeme, Malvern.